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Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6:51 am, the temperature outside is 69.4 degrees.
It was dark and foggy when I drove to the shop this morning. The fog has lifted now. The mountains are in clear view.
Today and tomorrow will be warm, with highs in the upper 80’s and lows in the high 60’s. Sunday is predicted to be hot, with a high of 90. We have only a slight chance for isolated thunderstorms today and tomorrow, with none expected Sunday.
This will be a good weekend to be high in the mountains, fly fishing on a small shaded stream. I can just see myself, sitting on a rock, “stream watching” in the cooler air.
Little River is flowing at 89.7 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.64 feet on the flow gauge. Median flow for this date is 119 cfs. The water temperature is 70.7 degrees this morning.
Little Pigeon River is flowing slightly below normal at 257 cfs, 1.65 feet, compared to median flow of 280 cfs.
Tellico River is flowing above normal at 166 cfs, 1.21 feet, compared to median flow of 120 cfs.
Oconaluftee River is also flowing above normal, at 322 cfs, 1.52 feet, compared to median flow of 279 cfs. The water temperature is 66.5 degrees. Water temperatures have been peaking at over 70 degrees at the Birdtown gauge. That will continue through the weekend.
Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 66.5 cfs, 2.39 feet, compared to median flow of 55 cfs. The water temperature is 61.7 degrees. Over the past few days the water temperature has not risen to 70 degrees.
So, we have fairly low water in some streams, and above normal flows in others. The low elevation streams are warm, and that will be the case all weekend.
Fish the mid to high elevation streams where the water is cooler. It will feel cooler to you too, while you are fishing.
Low water levels call for a high level of stealth. I know I keep mentioning this, every day. I see anglers leaving the shop to go fishing, looking like they are going to play a round of golf. They don’t understand the significance of stealth. If the trout see them, they won’t catch the trout.
And there are other anglers, who know. They leave here dressed for success. They are wearing camouflage clothing or muted colors, to blend with the forest. They are going to catch trout.
Dry flies and nymphs will work. You may want to use terrestrial imitations, like beetles, ants and Green Weenies. I know they are working. Other fly patterns will work too. Anything yellow is good.
I would go early or late when the sun is off the water. Or, hike into the backcountry and find a nice mid to high elevation shaded stream.
Lowland river fishing is probably fair at best. Try poppers or foam floating flies, cast to shaded areas.
Go early or late on the lakes, when the sun is off the water. It is going to be hot out there! Our boat feels like a convection oven on days like today, and through the weekend. Poppers, foam floating flies, streamers and Rubber Legged Dragons might work, if you are fly fishing on shaded banks.
There are a few tailwater options today, depending on when you can go, and how far you can drive. Refer to the TVA links below to see if you can plan something today.
Paula saw the wild turkey hen with a huge brood of poults yesterday at our house. That turkey should be awarded “Mother of the Year”. I counted eight poults. Paula counted seven. I have never seen a hen turkey with that many. We think she adopted some orphans. Whatever happened, she raised them to almost adulthood. They still stay close to her and she is always herding them to safety when we are close.
Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.
Byron Begley
August 9, 2019
Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com |